financial planning

Here at Brighton Wealth Management, we focus on a three-step Financial Planning Process:

1. Assess

Often great relationships begin the old fashioned way – with a one-on-one conversation. In our initial meeting, we discuss your specific financial needs, wants and concerns. From there we can analyze more closely and include your timelines and objectives.

When we evaluate your goals and objectives, we can see your current situation more clearly and put a plan into action to get you where you want to go financially.

2. Implement

To help you get on track, during the implementation phase, we provide you with a set plan for your financial journey. Once we put your plan into motion, we provide you with a step-by-step checklist of what you can do to make your wants and goals a reality.

Using Modern Portfolio Theory, we allocate and diversify your assets, we manage volatility and reduce risk so you can get the most out of your investments.

3. Monitor

Financial markets are constantly changing so it is important to continuously monitor and evaluate how well you are tracking toward your goals. This way as partners, we can explore new insights and opportunities that arise and adjust your plan when needed.

Monitoring the trends and patterns in the markets, we can make better decisions to increase the potential of your returns.

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Baby Boomers

Many baby boomers worked hard to build investments and retirement savings. As they come closer to retirement, many seek professional financial help to: • Know how and when to draw from savings to supplement your retirement. • Make sure your money will last your entire lifetime. • Figure out which investments are a good fit to match your financial safety and stability interests.

At Brighton Wealth Management, we design systematic financial planning strategies and create specific plans for each of your financial goals.

By the end of our third meeting, we present a written financial plan that will address all of your goals. Under certain circumstances, we may explore issues you hadn’t previously considered.

Widowed/ Divorced

At Brighton Wealth Management, we often work with widowed and divorced people who suddenly face challenging financial and emotional decisions. Many wonder how they will retire well on their own, if alone. How much do they need to save?

Our knowledge and experience in this area will help you find the right answers and we’ll work with you to develop comprehensive financial plans that meet your specific needs and outcomes.

Business Owners

Many business owners are interested in strategies to reduce tax costs and plan long term financial goals including the best way to plan for retirement for yourself and create a succession plan for your company.

At Brighton Wealth Management, we dedicate ourselves to help you every step of the way. We provide a financial plan to answer all your questions and guide you through the process to accomplish your financial goals.

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A “Systems Approach” to Financial Planning

Financial planning is a process to develop and implement an organized and coordinated plan. We aim to achieve your unique financial objectives which may include how to manage your investments, to create your tax and retirement strategies and to plan for your estate.

At Brighton Wealth Management we consider your entire financial situation and take a “systems approach” to achieve your financial goals.

Since we work strictly on a fiduciary basis, our main focus is always on you, our client.

The Fiduciary Difference

As a fee-only Fiduciary Firm, Brighton Wealth Management practices under a Fiduciary Oath that requires us by law to always act in your best interest as our client. We serve you in an objective, unbiased manner and will always disclose or eliminate any potential conflicts of interest.

As a fee-only financial planner and investment management firm, we receive no compensation from any product we recommend. Since we do not represent any product or company, we only represent you as our client.

Since we receive compensation only from the fees paid by our clients, we therefore never accept cross-selling fees, referral fee arrangements, kickbacks, surrender fees, sales contests, “educational cruises” and vacations or “free gifts.”

Client-Centered

As a fee-only Fiduciary Firm, our compensation only comes from you, our client so we only represent you. This allows us to completely devote our focus to you and your financial needs.

Unbiased Advice

At Brighton Wealth Management, we dedicate ourselves to provide financial and investment plans solely for the interest of our clients.

You can rest assured that our recommendations are not influenced by commissions or other forms of vendor-paid compensation.

As we provide the highest levels of personalized service, we also offer continuous professional, independent and unbiased financial advice.

About us

As a Registered Investment Advisor located in Salt Lake City, Utah, Brighton Wealth Management is dedicated to provide you with transparent, objective recommendations for the ideal options that match your unique financial situation.

We proudly tailor our services to suit your preferences as we help you build, manage, grow and protect your assets through life’s transitions.

As a fee-only financial planner in Salt Lake City, Utah, we specialize in and provide unique solutions for retirement and various other investments, in the areas of financial planning, asset management, wealth advisory, and strategic tax planning.

We are proud to say that many of our clients have confidence and trust in us with their life savings and to work together to plan their financial future. Because of our caring, personalized approach, we develop a close partnership with our clients that can last for decades.

At Brighton Wealth Management, we truly are in the relationship business and commit to serve you well for life.

My Story

"Working for two large financial services firms for 28 years, I learned many ways to better serve my clients. Unlike other big brokerage firms who often use a “one size fits all” approach and force all clients into the same types of investment vehicles, I always knew that every client is unique. Your life situations, goals and dreams are unique to you. I feel strongly that financial planning and investment management should be based on your particular situation. Since we are all individuals, it only makes sense to treat you like one. That is what inspired me to build Brighton Wealth Management, Inc. nine years ago." - Alan Battles, Founder, President & CEO

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What is Financial Planning?

Because achieving your financial goals involves the ability to make smart decisions about your money, financial planning is essential. When you clearly understand what you have today, what you want to have in the future and how you are going to get there, you dramatically increase the likelihood of financial success. This process of moving from where you are now (point A) to where you want to be (point B) involves identifying your short, intermediate and long term financial goals is the essence of financial planning. Our job is to help you get from point A to B as efficiently as possible with the greatest stability.

What is a Fiduciary?

As a fiduciary firm, we are 100% committed to act in your best interest as our client as our primary value. We are also required by law to do so. A fiduciary must always be objective, unbiased and transparent with our recommendations. We diligently eliminate or disclose any conflicts of interest. Because of this, we are on your side at all times.

Do you work with clients outside of Salt Lake City?

Yes. From our base in Salt Lake City, we maximize the use of technology to schedule and conduct virtual meetings from where you are for your convenience. Whether you come to Utah to enjoy our outstanding skiing or breathtaking scenery, we can also schedule a meeting to fit into your plans.

Do I need to have my finances in order before I call you?

Not at all. To organize your financial life is a big part of the up-front and ongoing value of financial planning. When you work with us, you will learn what information will be important to put together to create your financial plan. We help you put all the pieces together to get crystal clear on where you are and where you want to be. When you click on “Schedule a Meeting” and schedule your initial phone or office consultation, we can explore all the ways we can be a good fit to help you achieve your financial goals.

OUR TEAM

Alan Battles

Founder, President & CEO

I realize that as an investor, you want to maximize your financial return and to minimize your risk. In order to do this well, a person must have many years of experience and unique insights into market patterns.

I learned the value and benefit of hard work and managing risks early, growing up on a 1,000-acre farm in Eastern Nebraska. The business of farming involves uncertainty in many ways.The cost of necessities like fuel, seed, and machinery were out of our control. Changing weather patterns created ongoing uncertainty for how well our crops would grow. Yet as farmers, we learned to manage risk well in order to be financially successful.

My experience in financial services over the past 30 years has given me unique insight into market behavior. I guide you to pursue your financial goals with close attention, financial planning, and in-depth analysis.Together, we consider your financial goals, current situation and risk factors to make sound financial decisions.

I believe it is important to create a great working relationship with my clients by bringing my knowledge, genuineness, integrity and longevity in the field to the table. With my assistance, my clients were able to successfully manage their investments even through serious market challenges like the 9/11 attack, the housing bust and two equity bear markets just to name a few.

As a fully independent fee-only registered investment advisor (RIA) and financial planner, I customize a balanced approach with each client to develop a successful investment strategy. Together we focus on financial planning, managing investments, allocating assets, managing liabilities and estate planning strategies.

At the University of Nebraska, I earned my Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration and majored in both finance and economics.

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Cindy Gough

Office Manager

Cindy plays an important role in the servicing of our clients. She is fundamental in the operational aspects of the business including the overall administration of the office, answering service-related calls and reviewing statements with clients. She has been working with Alan for over 8 years.

In addition to her work, Cindy enjoys needlework, running, but most of all spending time with her husband of more than 30 years and their three sons.

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BLOG

I started this blog as a way to give back to the world through the knowledge I acquired by helping clients plan for their future for over 30 years.

Over the years I have witnessed many blunders that so called “investment advisors” have bestowed upon innocent people. Most of these “advisors” worry about how much commission they will make on the sale of a “product” rather than making sure that the investment they are suggesting is in the best interest of the client.

As a fiduciary, my number one priority is that my client’s interests must always come first.

I also realized with the growth of the internet and blogging that many investors can access information quickly and manage their money. Yet, I also could see that some people didn’t want to hire me, but could use some of my information.

I’ll give tips and suggestions about the financial planning process. I’ll also talk about some of the investment and economic cycles I see and also some of the silly things that sometimes attract or distract investor’s attention in the investment management process.

So I decided to write this blog to help independent investors with no cost or obligation. If you find value in what I do and how I do it, and you would like to explore working with my investment advisory firm, Brighton Wealth Management, simply use the contact button and shoot me an email.

Thank you for checking out my blog. I hope you find the information useful and informative.

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